Bartlesville firefighters are testing out two new “dry suits” purchased recently thanks to donations from the community, Training Officer/Public Information Officer Bill Hollander said Tuesday.
At least 12 firefighters donned the suits during water rescue training this week at the City of Bartlesville-owned Lee Lake, located on Adams Boulevard east of Silver Lake Drive.
“We’re trying out our new dry suits, which were recently acquired by the Fire Department using money that has been donated by citizens in the city,” Hollander said.
The suits are used for cold water and ice rescue, he said.
“They keep the firefighters from becoming hypothermic,” he said. “If it’s a hundred degrees outside, we probably won’t be wearing the dry suits during a rescue. We’ll have our regular, personal flotation devices on.”
Hollander said the suits cost “a little over $800 each.” Two have been purchased so far.
“We hope to purchase four more in the near future,” he said, bringing the total number to six — two suits for three of the department’s four stations. “One station doesn’t have a rescue boat, so we won’t have dry suits at that station.
“This equipment is vital to firefighter safety in a cold water or ice rescue. We very much appreciate the generous donations that make these types of purchases possible.”